DON’T BE CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEA. (Homily for TUESDAY of the 16th Week in Ordinary Time, 2015).

Bible Study: Exodus 14:21-15:1. / Matthew 12:46-50.

The best way to meditate on the Scriptures is by putting oneself into the picture. As such, it is not just a story about ‘them’ a story about ‘me’. This helps me to examine my conscience before attempting to judge any Biblical character. As such, rather than ask Pharaoh why he refused to let go of the Israelites, I need to ask myself why I often refuse to let go of past hurts and faults of others. And rather than feel sorry for Pharaoh and his cohorts for drowning in the sea, I better warn myself that continuous pursuit of my so-called enemies for vengeance could only lead to drowning as well.

For us looking at this story, it may look as though the Israelites did not offend the Egyptians at all. But from the Egyptian stand point, the Israelites actually deceived them into gaining their freedom from servitude. Moses asked Pharaoh to allow the people go and offer prayers to God. So when Pharaoh realised that they were not coming back anymore, he felt sad and cheated. This was why his legitimate reason for going after them.

Like Pharaoh, we all have been cheated, deceived, insulted by at least one person in our lifetime. (Let him who has never been offended raise his hands!!! I am sure only babies in the womb would raise theirs, but even babies are often offended as well). But unlike Pharaoh, we cannot afford to be caught up in the middle of the sea.

Unforgiveness is deadly! According to my favourite author, “refusal to forgive is like carrying hot coals on one’s palms intending to throw them at others. In the end, it is your palms that really get hurt.” Unforgiveness drives people into extreme and bizarre actions. Many have done unthinkable things as a result of a desire for revenge. Many have even ended up hurting themselves and their own children in the process. There is a story of a woman who poisoned her five children in a bid to revenge her neighbour for insulting her. It happened that her children mistakenly stumbled on the food she was planning to give to her neighbour.

Note that it is one thing to feel bad over what someone did to you and as a result resolve never to do so to anyone else but a different thing altogether when you are determined to make the person pay back at all costs. That strong determination to inflict as much pain as possible on the person is a spiritual force, when this force takes you over, you are no longer in complete control of your senses and just like Pharaoh, you find it difficult to retreat even when you see your drive is leading you nowhere.

It is not enough that we listen to (or read) homilies like this, it is more important that we put them into practice. Because it is by so doing that we become part and parcel of the family of Jesus. In the Gospel passage, Jesus was preaching when he was told his mother and relatives wanted to see him. He deliberately decides not to give them any preferential treatment. He would not stop what he was doing to attend to them instead he turns to the crowd and says: “whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother, and sister, and mother.”

Are you determined to forgive the people who have hurt you in the past? Are you going to drop those hot coals you have been carrying in your palms? Are you going to quit making plans and devising new strategies for your revenge attack? Do God’s will, by forgiving today, forget your own will, so that God will recognise you as his child. In Pidgin English, the question is often asked: “Pickin wei no resemble him papa, wetin dey happen to am?” We resemble God only to the extent that we are people of mercy. We resemble God in forgiveness – that is his DNA in us. One who cannot forgive does not belong to him.

After twenty seven solid years behind bars, Nelson Mandela said: WHEN I WAS ABOUT TO WALK OF THE PRISON INTO A LIFE OF FREEDOM, I KNEW THAT IF I REFUSE TO FORGIVE THOSE WHO HURT ME, I WOULD STILL BE IN CHAINS.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, help me realise the beauty and importance of forgiveness. May I always emulate you who at the point of death prayed for your persecutors, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” Amen.

Good morning. Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you.